WHO Issues First Global Guideline on Infertility

Context: WHO has released its first-ever global guideline on infertility, calling for safer, fairer and affordable fertility care worldwide.

• It aims to help countries integrate infertility prevention, diagnosis and treatment into public health systems as infertility affects 1 in 6 people globally.

About WHO Issues First Global Guideline on Infertility:

What the Guideline Is?

• WHO’s first global framework to standardise prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

• Seeks to make fertility care accessible, equitable and evidence-based, especially in countries where treatment is unaffordable and fragmented.

Key Features of the Guideline:

• 40 recommendations covering prevention, early diagnosis, counselling and advanced treatment options.

• Focus on cost-effective infertility care integrated into national health strategies and UHC frameworks.

• Encourages fertility awareness in schools, primary health centres and reproductive health facilities.

• Addresses risk factors such as untreated STIs, tobacco use, poor lifestyle habits.

• Recommends lifestyle interventions—healthy diet, exercise, tobacco cessation—for individuals trying to conceive.

• Provides clinical pathways for diagnosing infertility in both men and women using evidence-based protocols.

• Strong emphasis on psychosocial support, recognising the emotional stress, stigma and mental health burdens linked to infertility.

• Urges countries to adopt a rights-based, gender-equal reproductive health framework.

Relevance in UPSC Exam:

• GS-1 Society & Social Issues:

• Infertility as a public health and social issue affecting families, marriage, gender dynamics. Stigma, mental health, and societal pressure surrounding infertility.

• Infertility as a public health and social issue affecting families, marriage, gender dynamics.

• Stigma, mental health, and societal pressure surrounding infertility.

• GS-2 Health, Governance & Policies:

• WHO guidelines as part of global health governance and India’s commitments. Role of public health systems, need for universal access, reducing catastrophic health expenditure. Integrating infertility care under National Health Mission, reproductive health rights, SDG 3 (Good Health).

• WHO guidelines as part of global health governance and India’s commitments.

• Role of public health systems, need for universal access, reducing catastrophic health expenditure.

• Integrating infertility care under National Health Mission, reproductive health rights, SDG 3 (Good Health).

• GS-4 Ethics & Human Values:

• Ethical issues around equity, access, and reproductive rights. Avoiding exploitation in the infertility industry; upholding dignity and autonomy of couples.

• Ethical issues around equity, access, and reproductive rights.

• Avoiding exploitation in the infertility industry; upholding dignity and autonomy of couples.